Bonnybridge firm hit with COVID-19 scare

The Falkirk Herald had someone – who wished to remain anonymous – get in touch this week about a supposed COVID-19 outbreak among staff at LOC Hire Ltd, in Glasgow Road.

They stated last month there were eight cases of people testing positive and then last weekend there have supposedly been a further four cases.

It had been stated staff are “outraged” by the way management has treated them during this time - supposedly asking some people to come back into the office after the first initial outbreak and only installing protective screens last week, after COVID-19 had already spread among staff.

It was also stated around 60 per cent of the workforce now has the infection.

Although LOC Hire Ltd, which began back in 2014 and now has a fleet of over 200 portable welfare cabins which it can hired out, confirmed there had been staff members test positive for COVID-19, it stated there were not as many as was being claimed and protective measures had already been in place for staff.

Dan Wharton, LOC Hire Ltd managing director, said: “I can confirm we have a had some positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed. I can also confirm we are in communication with the relevant NHS health departments and Track and Trace and are following all the national guidelines as directed by them and to their satisfaction.

“We can confirm we have had screens, distancing, working from home, face protection and sanitising – among many other processes – in place for the last year. All of which have worked effectively, proven by the fact that we have had zero cases in the last 12 months, until now.

“Given we have had a some cases now, we have now bolstered our protection regime by adding additional measures which seems absolutely the right thing to do.

“It is our wish to continue to put the welfare and well being of our staff first and foremost, as we have always done.”